English Language and Literature: 2011:CBSE: [Delhi] – Set – I

Read the passage given below and choose the most appropriate to each question out of the options that follow: [1x5=5]

In ancient times, the Olympics were associated with Greek religious festivals. Life in ancient Greece revolved around their gods. The Greeks believed that their gods were immortal, and more powerful than human beings. They honoured their gods with festivals devoted to sports.

The most important of these festivals were the four national festivals. They were open to sportsmen from all Greek regions and colonies. Each of the festivals was held at a different place and was celebrated in honour of a particular god. The Olympic Games were held in Olympia which was an important religious centre in ancient Greece. A magnificent temple was built there in honour of the god, Zeus. He was regarded as the ruler of both gods and men. People tried to please Zeus by excelling in sports, and many contests of skill and strength were held.

It was believed that the Olympic Games were founded by the Greek hero, Hercules who was known as the son of the god, Zeus. He performed twelve seemingly impossible tasks to become the greatest of all Greek heroes. He cleaned in a single day King Augeas' stables which was an impossible task. The king was fabulously rich and had thousands and thousands of animals. So his stables were extremely dirty and full of stink. Hercules redirected the course of the river, Alpheus through the stables of the king. All the muck and dirt were washed out in a single day. To celebrate this achievement he started the Olympic Games in honour of his father, Zeus.

 

(a)  The Greeks celebrated festivals devoted to sport to

(i)   gain physical  strength

(ii)  honour their gods

(iii) get power

(iv) become immortal

 

(b)  In ancient Greece the Olympic Games were held

 

(i)   in Greek  regions

(ii)  in colonies

(iii) at religious  centres

(iv) at  Olympia

 

(c)  They honoured  Zeus by _

 

(i)   building  magnificient  temples

(ii)  excelling in sports

(iii) excelling in contests  of skill and  strength

(iv) doing all the  above things

 

(d)  The impossible task performed   by Hercules was

(i)   The cleaning of Augeas’ stables in a day

(ii)  Removing the muck and dirt from the king’s stables

(iii) Redirecting the course of the river  through  the  stables

(iv) all of the above

 

(e)  The word/phrase. In the   passage   which means   'deathless'   is

(i) Gods

(ii) Immortal

(iii) Human beings

(iv) Religious centre

Read  the  poem  given  below and  choose the  most  appropriate   answer  to each  question out  of the options that follow:  [1x5=5]

 

Oh, books, what books they used to know,

Those children living long ago!

 

So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,

Go throw your TV set away,

And in its place you can install

A lovely bookshelf on the wall.

Then fill the shelves with lots of books,

Ignoring all the dirty looks, ...

 

Fear not, because we promise you

That, in about a week or two

Of having nothing else to do,

They'll now begin to feel the need

Of having something to read.

And once they start --- oh boy, oh boy!

You watch the slowly growing joy

That fills their hearts.  They’ll grow so keen

 

They’ll wonder what they’d ever seen

In that ridiculous machine    ...

Roald Dahl

(a)  The word ‘they’ in the first line refers to

(i)   writers

(ii)  children  living in the  present  times

(iii) children  living in the  olden days

(iv) parents  of children

 

(b)  The poet wants the TV set to be replaced with

(i)   gadgets

(ii)  bookshelves filled with lots of books

(iii) bookshelves

(iv) showcases

 

(c)  The  poet  is  sure  that  the  children  would  begin  to  read  the  books within a week  or two because  they

(i)   will have  no other  work

(ii)  will have  no television

(iii) will have  books in the  shelves

(iv) with no work, will feel the  need for something  to read

 

(d)  Once the children start reading they will get

(i) Joy

(ii) Surprise

(iii) thrill

(iv) excitement       

 

(e)  The tone of the poem is

(i)   sad

(ii)  humorous

(iii) happy

(iv) satirical

Read  the  passage   given  below  :   [1x5=5]

Once a carpenter went looking for a job. He approached a building contractor, and got a job at a decent salary and good working conditions. The carpenter was thrilled and determined to do his best. His boss provided him with tools and showed him the place where he was supposed to work.

At the end of the first day, the carpenter prepared fifteen doors. His boss was happy with his performance and congratulated him. The carpenter tried harder the next day but he was able to prepare only 10 doors. The third day he tried even harder, but he could prepare only seven. Day after day he was preparing less and less doors.

"I must be losing my strength," the carpenter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. "When was the last time when you sharpened your tools ?" the boss asked.  "Sharpen ! I had no time to sharpen my tools. I have been busy trying to prepare doors," said the carpenter. Most of us never update our skills. We think that whatever we have learned is enough.

• Complete the following sentences based on your reading of the passage in your own words.

(a)  The carpenter approached    the building      contractor       because ___________________.

(b)  The carpenter became extremely happy  because he ___________________.

(c)  The boss congratulated him because ____________________.

(d)  His boss advised him __________________.

(e)  The word in the passage   which means   the   same as asked someone for something'    is ______________.

You are Madhur / Madhurika living at 53, Niti Apartments, Hyderabad. Write a letter in not more than 100 words to your friend telling him her about a very interesting story book that you have recently finished reading.      6

OR

A number of accidents take place due to low hanging high tension electric wires in the city. Write a letter in not more than 100 words to the editor of a national daily advocating the need for the removal of these wires from near the residential areas. You are Ankur / Akriti, living at 15, Main Road, Khajoori Khas, Delhi.

The prices of the items of daily consumption such as milk, vegetables, pulses etc. have been skyrocketing for the last several months making it difficult for the common man to survive. Write an article in not more than 120 words expressing  your  views  and  suggesting  solutions. You are Meghraj / Meghna.  6

 

OR

Malaria and dengue fever which greatly affect the children are most common during the rainy season. Write a speech in not more than 120 words to be delivered in the morning assembly to create awareness among the students about these diseases. You may take help from the notes given below. You are Prerna / Pranav.

•     Water borne diseases, caused by mosquito bite

•     dengue  mosquitoes  breed  in  clean  water  and  bite  during  daytime

•     don't let water accumulate in coolers, plants, anywhere at home or in the neighbourhood

•     cover all containers

•     cover the whole body - wear full-sleeved clothing

•     use mosquito repellents and mosquito nets

 

Your area was greatly affected due to flood in the Kosi river. There was a great loss of life and property. The students of your school rendered service and support to the victims. Write a report in about 80 words for your school magazine. You are Poonam / Prerit, Secretary of the Cultural Society of D.A.V. Sr.  Sec. School, Patna.  3

OR

 

Tomorrow is your grandmother's birthday. The children of your family want to celebrate it with great enthusiasm but without letting her know about the preparation you want to make. Write a dialogue, in about 80 words, which you might have with your family members about the plans that you have in your mind. You are Ankit / Anjali.

Read the passage given below. Fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate word/words from the given      options. 1/2x6=3

 

A  large  number  of scientists  gathered   at  Lakpat  in  Gujarat  (a) ________the   view  of  the   last   eclipse   of  the   twentieth century. This place (b)_______ to  be  the  best     as  the  totality there  would be  the       (c) ______. They (d)_______ there to  study  the phenomenon. But they (e) _______ because the clouds (f) ______ the  clear view of the eclipse.

 

(a) (i) See (ii) has seen (iii) to see (iv) seeing

(b) (i) was considered (ii) had considered (iii) consider (iv) considered

(c) (i) longer (ii) longest (iii) more longer (iv) lengthier

(d) (i) are going (ii)were going (iii) were gone (iv) had gone

(e) (i) were disappointed (ii) disappointed (iii) had disappointed (iv) have disappointed

(f) (i) have blocked (ii) blocked (iii) were blocked (iv) block

Given below are the notes taken by a reporter regarding the speedy disposal of the court cases by a judge in Andhra Pradesh. Study the given notes and complete the following paragraph by filling in the spaces from the given options.

1x3=3

• a junior  judge  cleared  111  cases  creating  a world  record

• cases include  thefts,   street  brawls  and  road  accidents

• imposed  fines  in  78  cases

• acquitted   the  accused  in  32  cases

 

Speedy Disposal of Court Cases

111 cases related to thefts, street brawls and road accidents (a) _______ by a junior judge in Manglagiri town in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday creating a world record. In 78 cases fines (b)____________ and in the remaining 33 cases, the accused (c)___________. He was lenient with those who admitted the crime. If we had few more of these judges, there would be no backlog left.

 

(a)(i) cleared 

     (ii) were being cleared

     (iii) were cleared

     (iv) had been  cleared

(b) (i) were imposed

    (ii) have been imposed

    (iii) were being imposed

    (iv) had been imposed

 

(c)  (i)are  acquitted

    (ii) were being acquitted

    (iii) had  been acquitted

    (iv) were acquitted

 

The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank is given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank number as given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have

supplied.    

1/2x6=3

      

When  Saina  Nehwal  land  in    

e.g.  land  -  landed

Hyderabad,  his face was radiant      (a)

of joy and  happiness.  The warm      (b)

welcome who she received  made     (c)

her  emotional.  She said if she          (d)

hadn't  expected  to seeing  so          (e)

many  people which had  travelled    (f)

all the  way to congratulate  her.

Look at the words   and phrases given below.  Rearrange       them to form meaningful sentences as shown.     1x3=3

For example      :

person  /  physically       /  a  /  was  /  she  /  handicapped

She was a physically handicapped person.

(a)  sat  up / chair  / wheel/in a / she / so

(b)  an / took her  / brother  / her  / ,apple / orchard  / to

(c)  a tree  / with  / laden  / saw / red  apples  / she